Volume XXV, Issue 3 Summer 2002 American JuJitsu Association Don’t Kill the Messenger By GEORGE KIRBY here are two ap- have a legislative branch (board the governing board. If the gov- proaches in running a of directors), an executive erning board is not satisfied business. If it’s a small branch (staff), and a judicial with the decisions it can change business the boss makes all the branch (administrator); much the policy and then the adminis- decisions and his or her deci- like the structure of federal, trator has to enforce the new Special points of interest: sions are final. If it’s a large state and local governments. policy. S business or a corporation, a Promotions 12 One of the characteristics of How does this concept apply to board of directors may set pol- S Tournament Results 14 this form of governance is that the AJA? The AJA Board of Di- icy, staff may establish proce- the administrator has the last rectors establishes policies, S Upcoming Events 15 dures to execute those policies, and final word if he is following which are carried out by staff. and an administrator may make S Contacting the AJA 10 the policy and administrative Staff sets up the procedures for administrative decisions with policies. In essence, it is this applying policies (membership regards to enforcement, compli- person’s responsibility to make and promotional forms, tourna- ance and interpretation of the decisions he is authorized to procedures. In essence you (See Messenger on page 11) make in line with the policy of Matte Doc! Matte! By JEFF BOWSER Inside this issue: y family and I are ever, he has learned certain notice it at first, but one of the studying and train- things such as arm bars, choke nurses ask what he was doing. ing in the gentle art submissions, among other tech- She stated that he had been Chairman’s Column 1 Don’t Kill the Messenger of jujitsu at the Vision Quest niques. Sam also understands doing that in the recovery room. Dojo in a small town in Ohio. what it is to “tap out” or say I looked at his little hand and Matte Doc! Matte! 1 Sounds pretty normal, except “matte” when a submission sure enough Sam was tapping that I am 42, my wife is 38, hold has been applied to him- out! He wanted them to stop From the Editor 2 three sons 18, 14, and 5. All of self or an opponent (his big moving him! us except for the little one are brother). Yielding: The Nature and 3 Sam is now out of the hospital able to train every week. Sam, Application of Ju This past week, Sam had his and doing very well. He should our 5 year old cannot at this second of three surgeries. The have his third surgery in about AJA Convention 4 time. Sam has Hirschprungs surgery lasted approximately 6 two months from now. This final Disease. That is a disease that News from Serbia 6 hours, and of course he had surgery will eliminate the need affects his bowels. about an hour in recovery. for a colostomy, and allow our Letters 6 Since September of last year, Which brings me to the reason little Jujitsu champion, Sam, to Sam has had a temporary for this writing. train and study with the rest of Bushido: Shiki 7 colostomy and for obvious rea- the family. As the nurses were transferring sons cannot train or grapple as Technique: Seoi Nage Sacrifice 8 him to his bed in his room, he Originally Published in Kokoro. Throw the rest of the family can. How- was tapping on the bed. I didn’t Reprinted with permission. Page 2 AJA Newsletter From the Editor The AJA Newsletter welcomes submissions of articles and proposals. We prefer plain text (.TXT) in electronic format, either through The AJA is seminars, wonder if she’s been that must be experienced and e-mail or on floppy disk. You can also send tournaments, and training. It is moonlighting?) Unable to travel, cannot be accurately described. articles for consideration through the U.S. association with diverse people others pitched in and provided Postal Service or via fax. who share a common interest in the photos and thoughts you’ll That is a good thing. Most of us JuJitsu. It is an opportunity to find on pages four and five. have learned from our training Back issues are available. learn, grow, and share. Scott Anderson, in from Biloxi, that words may help, but they Mississippi, covered one of my often walk around a thing. The Copyright notice: Permission is granted to And it’s more. While recovering classes. true essence is in the reproduce articles herein contained provided from recent surgery I was experience. Sometimes the that : reminded of another benefit of “Friend” may not be quite the experience comes from 1) the article is reproduced in its entirety, including author if listed and the AJA. From around the right word for people I rarely see stepping on the mat. 2) acknowledgement of original publication country I received cards, e-mail, and many I’ve never met. Yet Sometimes it comes from in the AJA newsletter is included and and phone calls from AJA there is a deeper warmth of surgery. 3) this copyright notice is included. members, many of whom I have friendship here than may be Otherwise, nothing herein contained may be never met in person. (The cards found in the casual friendships Thank you all for your kind reproduced without written permission of had a decided “dog” theme, formed around a Friday night thoughts and well wishes. the American Ju-Jitsu Association. including one that looked pizza. Much like the Tao, these remarkably like our beagle. I relationships are something To contact us: 6 [email protected] voice: 703-243-0206 fax: 703-243-0204 AJA Newsletter It’s a Contest! c/o Thomas Salander 519 North Livingston Street Arlington, Virginia 22203-0222 ...and It’s Half Over This is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the AJA Newsletter. To celebrate, we Submission deadline for the next issue is October 31, 2002 are running two contests throughout the year and you can enter! The first contest is to name the newsletter. Be creative, thoughtful, deep or clever. If you suggest a word or phrase in Japanese, please provide your intended translation (Japanese has many homonyms). Second is a contest for naming The Chairman’s regular column (“Don’t Kill the Messenger” is Professor Kirby’s installment this issue). We are looking for an over arching title that identifies the Chairman’s article, letter, or missive. Come up with a clever title that highlights our chairman’s thoughts. If we select your entry for either title, you will have an opportunity to be profiled in a future issue (optional, of course; you can always remain anonymous if you want). We already have some great entries, but do we have yours? Correction In the Spring edition, the list of judges for the Spring Northern Region Tournament should also have included Tim Enders. Volume XXV, Issue 3 Page 3 Yielding: The Nature and Application of Ju By KIMO WILLIAMS uestion: What makes start with the understanding Kamae: The success of a Ju-Jitsu any different and subsequent application of 構 Ju-Jutsu technique is in- from other “mixed” the essence of Ju; the ability え cumbent upon the user’s systems? to integrate with and dispatch ability to transition to a one’s opponents with the strong defensive posture or This is a good, fundamental least amount of energy and “Jigotai” at any time. This question that should be con- with the greatest amount of does not imply that one needs sidered by those who study effect. To flow in a state where to be in a “ready stance” at all and practice the art. The thought is replaced with ob- times but rather, that one power of true Ju-Jitsu is reliant servation and an effortless should keep a strong sense of upon the defender’s ability to perfection Zor “Shibumi” Z balance and awareness in any harmonize with an attack and results. situation, be it on the mat or redirect, rather than absorb, in the kitchen. It is from this the ki or energy that manifest I believe that diligent training weighted posture or “taiju” it. Doing so allows the de- and patient instruction will that we may move to an im- fender to gain ultimate control bestow this great ability on mediate position of advan- with little or no effort and initi- those that relentlessly seek it. tage. ate his/her own action to final- This “effortless perfection” is ize the conflict. This art of the fruit that is rarely seen in Aiki-ha: This, I believe, is “yielding” is one of two main systems that utilize strength, 合 the clear differentiating ideologies regarding the na- endurance or size to affect a 気 phase that makes Ju- ture of “Ju.” The other consid- goal. Additionally, aggressive Jutsu uniquely powerful. ers the ideogram’s subtle “Ju-Jutsu” that utilizes advanc- は The Aiki-ha or acceptance meaning to depict that of ing, linear contact or the meet- of an attack, regardless of its “flexibility.” Flexibility allows ing of force with equal or form, is the first step in turn- the practitioner to use a vari- greater force requires more ing the attacker’s force ety of hard or soft techniques energy than necessary While against himself. We Jutsuka at any stage of the conflict seeming effective in the man- do not oppose this force with depending on what presents agement of a single attack, it our own energy; we integrate itself at the time.